Single-pivot type suspension strut axle

Abstract

A single-pivot suspension strut axle for a passenger car, includes a wheel carrier/pivot bearing carrying the wheel and a brake disk non-rotatably connected with the wheel relative to a rotational axis thereof. A suspension strut is fastened to the wheel carrier/pivot bearing and, at another end, is supported at the vehicle body. The wheel carrier/pivot bearing is guided by a supporting joint situated close to the wheel center plane by a lower control arm, representing an A-arm, and by a tie rod. A section of the control arm connected with the supporting joint projects through the ring-shaped brake disk. A leaf spring element oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle provides proportional support for the vehicle body on the wheel, and is supported, on one side, at the control arm and, on another side, directly or indirectly, at the vehicle body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A single-pivot suspension strut axle for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a ring-shaped brake disk having a radially interior edge and a radially exterior edge, an inboard side face and an outboard side face; 
 one of a wheel carrier and a pivot bearing operatively configured to carry a wheel and the brake disk, the brake disk being non-rotatably connected to the wheel with respect to a rotational axis of the wheel; 
 a suspension strut fastened to the wheel carrier or pivot bearing at one end, and supported at a vehicle body at another end; 
 a lower control arm being operatively configured to guide the wheel carrier or pivot bearing via a supporting joint situated close to a wheel center plane; 
 a tie rod operatively configured to also guide the wheel carrier or pivot bearing; and 
 wherein a section of the lower control arm that connects with the supporting joint extends through the ring-shaped brake disk, and the supporting joint is positioned closer to the outboard side face of the brake disk than to the inboard side face. 
 
     
     
       2. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the suspension strut is fastened at the one end to the wheel carrier or pivot bearing in front of a drive shaft of the wheel relative to a driving direction in a top view; and 
 the suspension strut is operatively arranged to slope from the wheel carrier or pivot bearing toward a rear of the vehicle and additionally toward a vehicle center plane. 
 
     
     
       3. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a leaf spring element operatively configured for proportional support of the vehicle body on the wheel, the leaf spring element being oriented at least partially in a transverse direction of the vehicle and being supported on one end side at the lower control arm and on another end side, directly or indirectly by interposition of an axle support, at the vehicle body. 
 
     
     
       4. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the suspension strut is fastened at the one end to the wheel carrier or pivot bearing in front of a drive shaft of the wheel relative to a driving direction in a top view; and 
 the suspension strut is operatively arranged to slope from the wheel carrier or pivot bearing toward a rear of the vehicle and additionally toward a vehicle center plane. 
 
     
     
       5. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 3 , wherein for two wheels of the strut axle, the leaf spring element is operatively configured as a joint single leaf spring element for the two wheels. 
     
     
       6. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 5 , wherein a support for the joint single leaf spring element with respect to the vehicle body is operatively configured such that the joint single leaf spring element operates as an at least proportional stabilizer. 
     
     
       7. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 3 , wherein the leaf spring element is composed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       8. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 7 , wherein the plastic material is a fiber-reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
       9. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 7 , wherein for two wheels of the strut axle, the leaf spring element is operatively configured as a joint single leaf spring element for the two wheels. 
     
     
       10. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 3 , wherein the leaf spring element is hinged to the lower control arm at the one end side and, at the other end side, is fixedly supported at the vehicle body with respect to moments. 
     
     
       11. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the suspension strut is fastened at the one end to the wheel carrier or pivot bearing in front of a drive shaft of the wheel relative to a driving direction in a top view; and 
 the suspension strut is operatively arranged to slope from the wheel carrier or pivot bearing toward a rear of the vehicle and additionally toward a vehicle center plane. 
 
     
     
       12. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 10 , wherein for two wheels of the strut axle, the leaf spring element is operatively configured as a joint single leaf spring element for the two wheels. 
     
     
       13. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 12 , wherein a support for the joint single leaf spring element with respect to the vehicle body is operatively configured such that the joint single leaf spring element operates as an at least proportional stabilizer. 
     
     
       14. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 10 , wherein the leaf spring element is composed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       15. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 14 , wherein the plastic material is a fiber-reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
       16. The single pivot suspension strut axle according to  claim 14 , wherein for two wheels of the strut axle, the leaf spring element is operatively configured as a joint single leaf spring element for the two wheels.